Quote: dboy "What's so hard to understand?
He's out of contract at the end of the year. If we refuse him permission to talk to other clubs, he will walk for for free.
If we allow him to talk, we have the option to match or better the offer (this allows JC to earn the money the market thinks he is worth), or if we can't agree, we can accept a fee.
He may, of course, decide to just see out his contract and leave anyway.
It's not unheard of for the buying club to sign a player for the following year, avoiding a fee and putting the money "saved" onto the new players contract. Shady dealings.'"
Of course I appreciate all that you say from a business point of view. I was being somewhat rhetorical myself. It's the irony of the situation. The Head coach one day says more or less: Oh! you're such a valued member of the squad, and then the Club claims, but if there's a bit of brass in it for us you can go.